Season of the Kiwi

If you've secured yourself a working holiday visa for New Zealand, the chances are that come April ( this is when the season starts) most of the work will be in the Bay of Plenty region.

There are two work options : Kiwi packing or Kiwi picking (or some people even managed both.)

Bay of Islands

If you're heading to New Zealand, the Bay of Islands is definitely not a place to skip. Whilst the names of some places may be deceiving, Goat Island for example - has no goats on it, Bay of Islands is exactly what it says it is and exactly what you imagine it to look like; full of luscious green islands, each with their own golden sandy beaches and turquoise warm waters...a travellers idea of heaven.

Goat Island; A Hidden Gem Of The North Island

 Literally just off the coast of Leigh, sits and untouched Island named "Goats Island" or Te Hawere-a-Maki ( Maori term.) Goat Island is a beautiful destination to stop off for a couple of days and change your flip-flops for your flippers. The Island is full of greenery, birdlife and strictly off limits to human hands but that doesn't matter because the true magic is underneath. It's one of New Zealand's many marine reserves and so every direction you turn, land or sea, life will surround you. It's only an hour north of Auckland so its a perfect gem to stop off at on the way to the Bay of Islands. Plus if you're lucky enough you might get to swim with dolphins for FREE but if not the rest of the Sea life is just as exciting to see.

Coromandel Peninsular

Cathedral Cove

One of the first things that grabs your attention in New Zealand is the paradoxical element of the country's landscape. You can be driving through thick, green, luscious forests that conjure images of what one imagines the Amazon to look like, but then on the next corner you take you will looking out into clear blue water making waves on white sandy beaches. It's like being in two completely different countries at once.

Getting some wheels

 Being smug amount buying a car

...Five  (not so smug) days later                          

First things first. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, when you're buying something big and expensive you want to put time and effort into it...something we failed to do.